Executive Director’s Message
Bernadette Siracky
This past year was unprecedented – in every way. Face masks, sanitizer and social distancing became the norm as vaccines were approved for emergency use. Keeping our doors open during a global pandemic was our modus operandi and our dedicated staff ensured we operated safely for this to happen. We shifted safety protocol as new information came to light and we opened our doors to new clients, many of whom were first time users of our service.
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President’s Message
Lisa Lake
When I wrote my message for the 2020 AGM, it was with hope that 2021 would be a year where we returned to “normalâ€. As we have all discovered, in many ways 2021 was an even more complicated and complex year for the clients at the Food Bank. Not only were many still facing possible health challenges due to the virus and termination of government financial supports, summer 2021 brought wild fires to the area which resulted in evacuation to Kamloops of a number of vulnerable people. Some of the evacuees have since returned to their communities but others are still here while communities determine how to move forward.
Read More2021 By The Numbers
Who We’re Getting Food To
General Stats
Events
Rotary
Food Drives
The Rotary Food Drives take place twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall. Rotarians canvas the entire city collecting yellow bags of donations. Rotarians gathered 116,000 pounds of nonperishable food in 2021. This is a retail value of over $300,000.
B-100 Basics
For Babies
Basics for Babies shifted from an in-person breakfast to a telethon style event hosted by B-100 and CFJC-Midday. The donations received at this event ensures the consistent availability of baby food, formula, diapers and hygiene products for children under the age of three.
BC Share
BC Share coupons are available at most grocery stores in Kamloops. Customers have the option of adding two dollars to their bill which assists the Kamloops Food Bank with the purchase of healthy product.
Programs
The foodSHARE program has diverted over 18 million pounds of perishable food from the landfills, making it available to people in need.
The Starfish Backpack Program helps feed 130 local school children by ensuring they have nutritious food for the weekend.
The Baby Bank, which is largely supported by our annual Basics for Babies event, supports our youngest clients with formula, diapers and more.
Sharing Food
Feeding Hope
We are proud to offer our clients weekly access to healthy food.
Perishable
Available once per week, these hampers include items such as dairy, meat, produce, bread and premade deli meals.
Single, Couple, Family
Available once per month, these non-perishable hampers are prepared in various sizes to suit different household types and include pantry staples such as rice, noodles, soup, canned meat and canned vegetables.
High Protein, Pre/Post-Natal
Clients requiring a high protein diet as indicated by their physician receive high protein items or an increased opportunity to access perishable food items.
Transient
These hampers contain items that can be opened without a can opener and products which require minimal preparation.
foodSHARE is the largest food recovery program operated by a food bank in Western Canada. Over 18 million pounds diverted from the landfill since the program started in 2007 and delivered to 7,000 clients, 52 community agencies that make meals and local farmers who use expired product for animal feed. This initiative is zero waste. Healthy product including meat, dairy, produce and bakery items are available to our clients weekly.
Learn MoreCommunity
Food Distribution
Agencies
- ASK Wellness (Bridgeway)
- ASK Wellness (Crossroads)
- ASK Wellness (Panorama)
- ASK Wellness (Triple A)
- Babies Headstart (ICS)
- Boys and Girls Club
- Centre for Seniors Information
- Child Development
- EFRY-Family Stepping Stones
- Equality Project-Cache Creek
- Family Tree
- First Steps (ICS)
- Good Food Centre (ICS)
- Hopewell Clinic and Pregnancy Centre
- Kamloops Native Housing
- Kamloops Reach
- King Street (IH)
- Loop
- Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family
- Lii Michif Otipemisiwack Youth
- Maverick Manor
- Meal Train
- Merritt Friendship Centre
- Mustard Seed
- Pit Stop
- River of Life
- Street School (ICS)
- Vision Quest
- Youth Street Outreach (ICS)
Schools
- AE Perry Elementary
- Arthur Hatton Elementary
- Arthur Stevenson Elementary
- Beattie Elementary
- Bert Edwards Elementary
- Brocklehurst Middle School
- Dallas Elementary
- David Thompson Elementary
- Four Directions Secondary
- Kay Bingham Elementary
- KSA
- Marion Schilling Elementary
- Norkam Secondary
- Parkcrest Elementary
- Pinantan Elementary
- RL Clemitson Elementary
- Savona Elementary
- South Kamloops Secondary
- Summit Elementary
- Westsyde Secondary
Associate Member Food Banks
- 100 Mile House
- Ashcroft
- Barriere
- Chase
- Clearwater
- Lillooet
- Logan Lake
- Lytton
- Merritt
Retail Supporters
- Cain’s Independent Grocery
- Costco
- Little Caesar’s N. Shore
- Little Caesar’s Sahali
- London Drugs
- Market Fresh
- Nature’s Fare
- Safeway Fortune
- Fresh Co.
- Save-On Brock
- Save-On Lansdowne
- Save-On Sahali
- Save-On Valleyview
- Save-On Westsyde
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Shoppers Drug Mart N. Shore
- Starbucks Valleyview
- Superstore
- Walmart
- 7-Eleven Summit
- 7-Eleven Brock
- 7-Eleven Sahali
Why a New Warehouse?
Recognized as Essential Service
Covid-19 demanded a significant shift in our operations as regional, provincial, and federal governments recognized us as an ‘essential service’ for the most vulnerable in the communities we serve.
We Shifted Fast
Changing health protocols meant we modified our space, retrained staff and clients and reduced our volunteer numbers. Fundraisers went online and most importantly, we were serving individuals who had never before needed the Food Bank.
Unparalleled Need & Support
As weeks turned to months, our challenges evolved. Each met with unparalleled support. The response was like none other.
The Challenge That Remains
Despite this support, we faced a continued challenge – storage! We had been operating with multiple off-site rented storage solutions.
Directing Resources Toward Sustainable Future
Simple economics prohibits long term rental of off-site warehouse space. We must be ready for what the future brings. Solving our storage issue is part of ensuring our sustainability.
Strategic Plan 2021
Download the Strategic Plan
